Opinion: Inside the Gang of Eight

Arizona Sen. John McCain comments on immigration reform and the work of the Gang of Eight. Photo: Getty Images

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... I ... Luke's new immigration now in this new reform bill ... this was tried before in two thousand and seven in a sale going why did it fail in one of the lessons for this time around ... I think it failed for several reasons including disenchantment from both right and laughed ... failure to get ... sufficient base of support ... and ... also that there are controversies critique Lee about guest workers ... on ... the specific product and not all reason the specific was amendment ... then ... Senator Obama supported that low which time said the guest worker program and the rest of it would not be that ... that was the final blow ... aam but also was dragged out but I'll the major factor this time in my view is the view of the American people ... over seventy percent of the American people according to Wall Street Journal ... poll ... the Irish says that people should have a path to citizenship to pay a fine ... back taxes learn English ... and get in line behind me ... everybody who came here legally yours waiting legally ... that's a big issue to the American people and I think they're ready for I think Americans ... no we have to do something about the issue of eleven million people living in the shadows and finely finely ... it's my obligation as a ... Senator from a border state to make sure that we don't have a third way ... our first wave was when we ... under Ronald Reagan gave amnesty premium people and said we'd never have to ... worry about League and now we have eleven mean people ... I've got a sure I'm sure my constituents that would not be a certain way that means border security while center but it also means a flexible guest worker program that allows the economy to just get to the needs Santa hats and even that bill back in two thousand and seven has a far higher cap ... for those guest worker he says mom it even if this bill did pass or are we just have this problem five ten ... or twenty years from ... what we're gonna have the lead main people who will be working illegally because they will have a legal status here and that will ... follow some um are already working legally there are some other are still ... standing on street corners waiting to be picked up and work at someone's home for the day ... that'll be important we do have a very generous stamp program ... if you have a graduate degree in your in this country and you want to stay ... in in one of the scientific pursuits ... you're you're going to be you have a green card ... also we are richly escalating those numbers ... but it's not everything that I wanted but I ... think ... the fact that business and labor have signed on is important ... yesterday and that the center Graham Sumner flake and I met with the National Restaurant Association ... the employee third t mean people ... in our favor restaurant ... our favorites McDonald's NECA equity and bond ... Olive Garden center Grant favorite Italian rash ... the yet so ... that they are all one four while the unborn because it's got everything they want known ... but you know many of them on knowingly hire people who were ... illegally in this country and are always worried about ... I showing up at their establishments in ok these ... sold ... out we have the the support of business and labor even though ... there are provisions that I didn't protect the Like button result of compromise in this the Democrats including Sen Schumer who did a great job one switching this ... paper was briefly got about thirty seconds left to summon those provisions to give a lot of power to labor ... for example to set wages ... I'm you know again is that something that makes the spill a little last minute ... but it really does give them that the power ... to set wages there's a formula for people are available the unemployment rate in certain areas and other ... factors that do that's why I'd I wouldn't think that that's it that's the case ... although the again ... there are some provisions said I don't think our ... I'll what we want him what ... all of these numbers are Escalade Tory me and I hope we'll be overreach the numbers that ... will satisfy away at worker demands otherwise ... you will see people come to this country illegally because people want to work or shh it's not just the fine in the Senate you've got a fight in the house to learn a fall at very closely center ... I thank you for those common